Traineeship training comprises 2 components, namely, on-the-job training (OJT) and off-the-job training. OJT is provided in-house by the employer at the work place. For off-the-job training, the trainee attends classes at an ITE College once or twice a week. The employer pays the trainee a monthly salary for the full duration of traineeship.

For full-time institutional training, the student will attend full-time training conducted at an ITE College from Mondays to Fridays and participates in extra-curricular activities. Also, the student will have to pay his/her own course and other related fees.

A trainee who successfully completes his/her Traineeship will receive 2 certificates. They are the relevant National ITE Certificate (or Nitec) as well as a Traineeship Certificate, stating that the trainee has had relevant work experience in the company. For full-time institutional training, the student who successfully completes the course will receive just the relevant Nitec certificate.

An applicant must have completed GCE 'O' or GCE 'N' levels. Depending on the course applied for, the applicant is required to have GCE 'O' level passes (Grades 1 -8) in any 2 subjects; or GCE 'N' level passes (Grades A-D or 1 - 5) in a specified subject plus 2 other subjects; or had completed GCE 'N' level.

The duration of ITE Traineeship Courses leading to Nitec certification ranges from 1 to 2 years.Please visit the ITE website: Click here to contact the relevant ITE officer for more information on the courses that you are interested in.

There are 2 intake application exercises every year. The first intake application is in December yearly, meant for Nitec traineeship programmes commencing in January the following year. The second intake application is in January yearly, for Higher Nitec traineeship programmes commencing in April. All Traineeship intake application exercises are announced in the major local newspapers after the release of GCE'N' and GCE'O' level results and ITE website about 2 weeks before the actual intake exercise.

There are 2 ways you can apply to join a Traineeship course. You may apply directly to the company when it advertises in the newspapers. If you are successful at the interview, the company will register you for the ITE Traineeship course.

Alternatively, you can apply in person at ITE Headquarters Customer & Visitor Centre located at 2 Ang Mo Kio Drive, during the Traineeship Intake Exercises. You will be required to attend pre-interview sessions with ITE officers. There are 2 intake points each year. The first intake point is in December, for Nitec traineeship programmes commencing in January the following year. The second intake point is in January for Higher Nitec traineeship programmes commencing in April. Traineeship intakes are announced in the major local newspapers and ITE website about 2 weeks before the actual intake exercise.

Yes, you would need to sign a Traineeship Agreement that spells out your role and responsibilities and those of your employer.

You are required to complete the training once you have registered for a traineeship course and signed the Traineeship Agreement. If you leave without completing your training, you will be required to reimburse your employer the cost incurred in sponsoring you. The amount payable is known as Liquidated Damages (LD).

There will be no LD payable if you withdraw from the course within the first month of signing the Traineeship Agreement. After this grace period, you are liable to pay LD to your employer based on the amount spent on you, including course fees, and salary paid to you for those days you attended the day-release classes. The amount of LD will be determined at the time of your withdrawal from the course.

Trainees are employees of the company and are protected under the terms of the Employment Act. In addition, all trainees joining the Traineeship programme are required to enter into a Traineeship Agreement with the company and ITE. The Traineeship Agreement spells out clearly the roles and responsibilities of each party and all will have to honour the terms and conditions of participation.

Your employer will also assign qualified competent trainers to supervise and monitor your training progress. You will be released by the employer to attend theory classes. Your employer will pay you a monthly salary and sponsor all other related training costs. There will also be class advisors and ITE officers that will check on you, to ensure that you receive proper training. He will visit you at the company and check your training records to monitor your progress. You can contact the Class Advisor/ITE officer if you have any problems at work.

Trainees enjoy the same progression opportunities available to graduates of ITE full-time courses. Nitec graduates may upgrade within ITE through the relevant Higher Nitec courses. Graduates from certain Nitec courses may also apply for progression to the first year of relevant Diploma courses offered by the Polytechnics if graduated with a GPA of 3.5 and above.

General Information for Employers

Traineeship training comprises 2 components, namely, on-the-job training (OJT) and off-the-job training. OJT is provided in-house by the employer at the work place. For off-the-job training, the trainee attends classes at an ITE College once or twice a week. The employer pays the trainee a monthly salary for the full duration of traineeship.

For full-time institutional training, the student will attend full-time training conducted at an ITE College from Mondays to Fridays and participates in extra-curricular activities. Also, the student will have to pay his/her own course and other related fees.

A trainee who successfully completes his/her Traineeship will receive 2 certificates. They are the relevant National ITE Certificate (or Nitec) as well as a Traineeship Certificate, stating that the trainee has had relevant work experience in the company. For full-time institutional training, the student who successfully completes the course will receive just the relevant Nitec certificate.

Your company can benefit in a number of ways by participating in traineeship. These are:

i) ITE will assist your company to recruit trainees;ii) Your company will enjoy training funding from SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG), which is very attractive and will help you offset your training costs;iii) The OJT that your company provides is directly relevant to meet your operational needs;iv) Your trainees can contribute to your work operations very quickly and be productive in a short period through OJT;v) Your company can inculcate good work practices in your trainees during their period of traineeship; andvi) The curriculum allows you to incorporate training content that are specific to your company's needs.

i) Provide your trainees with relevant OJT as specified by ITE in at least 75% of the tasks as listed in the Training Logbook;ii) Sponsor your company trainers who are not pedagogically-trained to attend Coaching Skills and Plan & Implement OJT courses conducted by ITE or any other pedagogic courses approved by ITE;iii) Allow your trainees to attend the off-the-job training during normal working hours. iv) Enter into a Traineeship Agreement with your trainees and their sureties to formalise the traineeship programme;v) Pay your trainees salaries and fringe benefits (where applicable) as agreed upon in the Traineeship Agreement;vi) Allow ITE officers access to your premises to monitor the progress of your trainees; andvii) Bear all training costs including registration, course, examination and related fees for your trainees to attend off-the-job training at an ITE College.

The 75% OJT tasks stipulation is aimed at ensuring that an employer can provide relevant OJT tasks that are essential and aligned to the course of study. However, if your company is unable to fulfil this requirement, you can still forward your proposals to ITE outlining the alternative OJT tasks that you can provide, including other skills training that your company can provide, for consideration.

Applicants who have completed GCE 'N' or GCE 'O' levels may apply for a traineeship course. Depending on the course applied for, an applicant is required to have GCE 'O' level passes (Grades 1 -8) in any 2 subjects; or GCE 'N' level passes (Grades A-D or 1 - 5) in the specified subject plus 2 other subjects; or have completed GCE 'N' level. You may also sponsor your existing employees for traineeship if they meet the entry requirements for the course applied for.

Please visit the ITE website: Click here to contact the relevant ITE officer for more information on the course that you are interested in.

Yes. If your employee meets the entry requirement for the course applied for, your company may sponsor your employee to attend a Traineeship course. However, employers will not be eligible for training funding from WDA and ITE will also not be liable should the work permits not be renewed during the period of the training. As annouced by the Ministry of Education, course fees for non-citizens are differentiated and shall apply to trainees who are not Singapore Citizen or Singapore Permanent Resident.

Yes. ITE conducts 2 traineeship intake exercises each year. The first intake point is in December and the second intake point is in January the following year. Traineeship intakes are announced in the major local papers following the release of the GCE examination results and over the website about 2 days before the actual intake exercise. Applicants who turn up during these intake exercises will be briefed about traineeship. Thereafter, they will apply for a course of their choice before arrangements are made for them to attend interviews at companies.

Under Traineeship, the 3 parties, namely, trainee, employer and the trainee's surety are required to enter into a Traineeship Agreement to formalise the traineeship, with ITE as a witnessing party. Essentially, the Agreement spells out the duties and obligations of the 3 parties to ensure that the traineeship course can be successfully concluded. If a trainee chooses to leave the course prematurely on grounds that are not acceptable to the employer, there is recourse for the employer under the terms of the Agreement to recover liquidated damages from the trainee or his surety. ITE will assist employers to facilitate in discussions.

If you are unable to find an answer to your query, please email itehq@ite.edu.sg to let us know how we can help you.